The Heart of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: a MBSR Guide for Clinicians and Clients

"Lovely emerges as an apt description of this MBSR guidebook written by my dear friend and colleague, Elana Rosenbaum. At heart, Elana is a student - infectiously curious, enduringly fascinated and constantly learning. Together, these qualities make her an exceptional teacher. She is sort, warm and openhearted ... and she is fiercely and uncompromisingly alive! Thriving for more than twenty-two years since being diagnosed with cancer and facing multiple reoccurrences, Elana is an embodiment of life itself. Dear reader, be prepared: Entering into this book you ll catch the fragrance of this fierce, warmhearted aliveness, discovering it as none other than you. L chaim! Saki F. Santorelli, EdD, MA, Professor of Medicine, Director MBSR Clinic, Executive Director, Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, University of Massachusetts Medical School

This definitive workbook does more than just offer readers an opportunity for their own personal experience of MBSR. From her unique vantage point spanning all the way back to the early days of MBSR, Elana provides a precious window into the wisdom and warmth that continues to bring MBSR to life today. Elana s intuitive presence, playfulness, and heartfulness inspired a generation of MBSR teachers, teaching us all the healing power that arises from bringing kind awareness to our present moment experience. By distilling the core concepts of MBSR within this workbook, Elana not only gives us access to the heart of MBSR; she also shows us a path to open our own. --Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD, Executive Director, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance & Harvard Medical School

Elana Rosenbaum, a master MBSR teacher, has written a gem handbook that provides a practical map and walks us through the nuanced details of the MBSR program. Elana s unique blend of stellar teaching, clinical skills and transformative personal experience with serious illness leads to this clear and comprehensive resource. Written with great wisdom and a light-hearted and compassionate heart, Elana has given us a treasure filled practical tools that will benefit those new to MBSR or experienced teachers, alike. --Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN President, Mind & Life Institute, Author of Leaves Falling Gently: Living with Serious and Life-Limiting Illness through Mindfulness, Compassion and Connectedness

Elana has synthesized important learning themes embedded in the MBSR program. A useful workbook for those interested in developing a mindfulness practice and to reflect on what is important in teaching mindfulness. --Susan Woods, MSW, LICSW, Senior MBSR/MBCT Advisor, Teacher Trainer and Mentor, The Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute, UC San Diego

"The Heart of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is a synthesis of Elana Rosenbaum's decades of experience in teaching MBSR, training others to teach and a guidebook giving readers direct access to the essence of this profoundly transformative program. Elana describes in detail the themes of the program session by session and offers practical mindfulness exercises and meditations for the reader to explore. Whether it is teaching MBSR or writing about it, Elana puts her heart and soul into her work. Threaded through each page of this book is respect, authenticity and love." --Diane Reibel, PhD, Director, Mindfulness Institute, Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Co-author, Teaching Mindfulness: A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Educators

Elana Rosenbaum, MS, MSW, LICSW, has been integrating mindfulness with psychotherapy and healthcare since 1984. She is one of the original teachers of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as the Center for Mindfulness, working directly with Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of MBSR. Elana is a sought after mindfulness coach, teacher, speaker, workshop leader, meditation retreat leader, and consultant, and has trained thousands across the world. She has a psychotherapy private practice in Worcester, MA.